Major development orientation of international textile hi-tech fiber involves more and more interdisciplinary work between fiber technology and other subjects including but not restricted in information technology, life sciences, environmental-friendly technology, new energy technology so as to meet the growing demand from various sectors: Apparel, ornamentation, industrial use, to name a few. Following are examples of hi-tech fiber involving interdisciplinary work:

Multifunctionalize various fiber materials throughout chemistry and physical methods

R&D on environmental-friendly fiber that could replace petroleum as the raw material

R&D on special fiber materials such as high-temperature resistant fiber, high-strength and high-modulus fiber, flame-retardant fiber, nano-fiber and other special fiber with special uses.

Most of china’s domestically manufactured chemical fibers are just regular fibers. Hi-tech fiber industry starts to burgeon in China but remains in an exploring status due to the disadvantages in certain areas in terms of technology and supply-chain management deficiencies. Many strategically important special fibers such as aramid fiber, carbon fiber, UHMWPE fiber production are still technologically-immature to proceed with bulk production.

Overall textile industry manufacturing technology remains unprogressive

Many industrialized nations have adopted new technologies of spinning and realized continuous manufacturing and shuttle loom has almost gone disappeared. By contrast, China national spinning technology remains in the 90s technology and only 40% of the spinning mills have realized automatic winding, 76% of weaving mills are still using shuttle looms. Digitalization and automatic level of China domestic dyeing and finishing machinery, R&D and designing level of home textile and apparel industry are all remains unprogressive which severely restricted product quality improvement of the overall textile industry. Given the nature and extent of the fragmentation and technology obsolescence in the decentralized sectors, it is high time that adequate upgrading measures and policies be taken to prepare a technology savvy industry to meet the challenges ahead.

Textile equipment lagging behind

Modern textile machinery has encapsulated technology improvement of various branches including computer science, communication, network, laser technology, aerodynamics, hydraulics and sensing technology. It is now one of the major features of modern textile machinery technology to replace manual control to automatic control and intelligent expert system adroitly combining electronics as well as mechanics.

First and foremost, China domestic textile machinery industry has made substantial accomplishments after years of unwavering research and development. Nonetheless, China is still far behind advanced countries. Italy, Germany, Switzerland, China just reached their height back to ten years ago. Major disadvantages include: unstable reliability, frequent malfunction, unreliable controllability, low level of mechanical-electrical integration, inflexible for small quantity, multifunction orders, inferior quality of sensors, and etc. Currently, major weaving equipments, dyeing and finishing equipments as well as advanced chemical fiber manufacturing equipments for technological upgrade still depend on importation from advanced countries.

Environmental-friendly technology and sustainable development technology have just commenced

It is one of the major themes to protect the environment and realize sustainable development. The concept of “green” has never been so widely and prevalently accepted by textile products manufacturing and international trade. There are currently more than twenty countries adopting the ISO14000 environment protection system promulgated by International Standardization Organization. “Green” regenerated fiber development, “green” dyeing and finishing technology, industrial waste disposal technology are all highlighted as primary textile industry R&D orientations in developed countries such as Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

Weak information and quick response technology weakness

Information technology is the hi-tech propeller that drives conventional textile industry upgrade involving manufacturing, management and modernization of sales. Quick responding system is the pivotal nexus to restructure company business and maximally exert domestic resource conditions and optimize international resources. China still has a much long way to go compared with developed countries on an array of fields including industry software development, e-commerce development, ERP software adoption.

Source: China Textile Leader